BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey is celebrating the signing of a $1 billion transportation and infrastructure bill, touting it as “historic” and promising fewer potholes, faster commutes, and “safer communities.” But much of the money is coming from the state’s controversial “Fair Share” surtax — the so-called millionaire’s tax — which critics say is already driving wealth, jobs, and tax revenue out of Massachusetts, all to bankroll Beacon Hill’s latest spending binge.

The package delivers a record $300 million in base Chapter 90 funding for municipal road and bridge work — a 50 percent jump from the usual $200 million in recent years — plus $80 million in additional Fair Share funding. Combined, the $380 million total marks the largest Chapter 90 allocation in the program’s history. Healey calls it a “transformational investment.” Skeptics say it’s a familiar Massachusetts routine: tax more, spend big, and watch politically connected contractors walk away with the biggest payouts.

How the Money Will Be Spent

Under the law, $200 million will be distributed to cities and towns under the long-standing Chapter 90 formula, which historically benefits larger, politically influential municipalities. Another $100 million will be awarded based on road mileage, which Healey says will give rural communities a bigger share. But past “rural-friendly” infrastructure packages have still seen Boston and other urban strongholds collect the marquee projects and ribbon-cuttings.

The rest of the $1 billion package includes:

• $500 million for state-run pavement and bridge upgrades through MassDOT’s “lifecycle asset management” program.
• $200 million for replacing culverts and small bridges, branded as “climate resilience.”
• $185 million for congestion relief and so-called “safety improvements” near schools, intersections, rail crossings, and commercial areas.

Critics See a Progressive Agenda in Disguise

Critics warn that labels like “safety” and “climate” often mask progressive pet projects — from road diets and lane removals to decorative landscaping and bike-only corridors — that do little for the average commuter. In practice, they say, these projects are part of a broader effort to make driving less convenient, a policy goal openly embraced by progressive city planners.

Opponents of Healey’s approach argue that working families, tradesmen, and commuters who rely on their cars will end up paying for changes that make travel slower and less efficient, while the basics — like filling axle-busting potholes or replacing rusting bridges — get whatever money is left.

A Record for the Record’s Sake?

The “largest ever” label hinges on combining the $300 million base appropriation with the $80 million Fair Share supplement. While that figure is indeed a historic total for Chapter 90, Massachusetts has poured comparable amounts into transportation before, often with underwhelming results. Winter frost heaves, slow contracting, and patch-job repairs routinely erase progress within months.

The Politics Behind the Paving

The Fair Share surtax, approved by voters in 2022, imposes a 4 percent surtax on incomes over $1 million. Supporters promised the revenue would be split between education and transportation. But critics argue the tax punishes success and accelerates the flight of high-earning residents to low-tax states like Florida and New Hampshire — a shift that could shrink the tax base and leave future infrastructure projects underfunded.

Skeptics also point to the state’s recent track record on big-ticket spending. Multi-million-dollar no-bid contracts for migrant shelters went to companies with political ties earlier this year, fueling concerns that a similar insider network will benefit from the Chapter 90 windfall.

What’s Next

The bill takes effect immediately, allowing municipalities to submit projects for reimbursement. Healey’s administration says the money will start flowing quickly to get work underway before the winter construction shutdown. But for drivers used to Beacon Hill’s promises, the question remains: will this record-setting package deliver smoother roads, or just another round of bike lanes, bottlenecks, and photo-ops?

For many Massachusetts taxpayers — already paying some of the highest gas taxes, tolls, and now a millionaire’s tax — patience is wearing thin with a political class that seems determined to make them pay more and drive less.